Men’s Basketball closes season at NIT; memorable night for NEC title game

The men’s basketball team closed its 2018-19 season with a 89-72 loss at Indiana on Tuesday night in the opening round of the National Invitation Tournament.

It was SFU’s first appearance in the NIT since 1958.

SFU (18-15) closed its schedule as co-regular-season champs of the Northeast Conference, sharing top honors with Fairleigh Dickinson.

The Red Flash lost to FDU in the NEC Tournament championship game, 85-76, on March 12 in front of a packed house at DeGol Arena.

The “White Out” student section for the title game was erupting with excitement as the Red Flash jumped out to an 11-2 lead to open the game against the Knights.

Fairleigh Dickinson would regroup, however, and shoot the ball extremely well (65 percent from the field) to come from behind and send Red Flash fans home disappointed.

It was the first NEC championship game to be played in Loretto since March of 1991, when that year’s team defeated Fairleigh Dickinson to advance to the NCAA Tournament.

“I am extremely proud of the way our guys handled themselves throughout the year, with the lofty expectations placed on them,” said head coach Rob Krimmel, the 2018-19 NEC Coach-of-the-Year.

“The staff did a tremendous job of working with the players to put the program in the position that it was in.”

Senior Andre Wolford is one of five seniors on this year’s team who saw their last home action at DeGol Arena on March 12.

“To be able to do something that hadn’t been done in over two decades and to be able to bring joy and that level of success back to Loretto made me so happy,” said Wolford.

Krimmel said he is appreciative of the support that was on full display at the NEC championship game in front of a nationally televised audience. The game was carried live on ESPN2.

“I am extremely grateful for all of the support that the Saint Francis community and the local community showed by packing DeGol Arena,” he said.

“The atmosphere was fantastic, and it will be something our guys will remember for the rest of their lives.”